At Last — the Prodigals Came Home

Hallelujah! After nine long days, our missing luggage finally arrived home. We checked websites, made phone calls, saved claim numbers, and searched for answers. Every day I told myself to trust God. Every day I reminded others to trust God. Every day I quoted Scripture.

AND every day I worried. There. I said it.

Let me be honest. I have NOT mastered faith. I am not a spiritual giant. I doubted. I whined. Ever felt that way?

Truthfully, most of us don’t need another story about someone who never struggled. We need reminders that ordinary people can wrestle with worry and still discover God’s faithfulness on the other side.

In fact, I suspect some of my readers are carrying burdens far heavier than delayed luggage. A health diagnosis. A prodigal child. Financial pressure. Loneliness. Grief. Unanswered prayers.

And when you all read my blogs –- you aren’t really into whether my suitcases arrived or not.

I am a woman who loves God’s Word, writes about faith, and encourages others to stand on His promises. Yet somewhere between day three and day nine, I began imagining my belongings living permanently in someone else’s closet.

My faith wasn’t gone, but it certainly wasn’t strutting around confidently either.

Suddenly, I remembered an important truth: God was faithful every single day they were missing. And it wasn’t because I was faith-filled – trusting in God’s promises.

I really did want to believe as I read this scripture: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3

The luggage was delayed, but God wasn’t.

His faithfulness never depended on the strength of my faith. He remained faithful because that’s who He is. He knew exactly where they were the entire time.

Perhaps that’s the lesson.

Faith isn’t pretending we’re never anxious. Faith is bringing our anxieties back to God — again and again — until peace finally outweighs fear.

So, if you’re waiting for an answer, a breakthrough, a healing, a provision, or a miracle, don’t give up.

Keep praying.

Keep trusting.

Keep believing.

Your answer may be delayed, but God’s faithfulness never is.

AND – if luggage could speak, I think they’d say: “Sorry we’re late. We were just helping you learn to trust God a little more.”

And honestly, I’d have to admit — they did.